Imagine a world where they cancelled the Champions Trophy - the mind boggles trying to comprehend how we'd all get on with our lives. It would be like if the WWE did away with the Intercontinental Belt.

Originally Posted by Irfan

We may not like you, your filthy rich coffers or your ratbag scum of supporters but by god do we respect you as a football team

Well the problem is that people are propagating the belief that it would be risking your life if you play in Pakistan after bombs go off, but not in England if bombs go off, or in Jaipur if bombs go off.

tbh, probably more chance of more bombs going off in Pakistan than the UK.

I agreed somewhat when australia refused to tour in march but now its getting annoying, its just like PCB have got a habbit of taking the piss from countries not wanting to come and then not doing anything about it. This is one example then another example is the shoaib/asif saga, if they had taken a big stand a couple of years ago then atleast i would have had some amount of respect for them. But if it happens to a big player (shoaib, asif) or similarly in cricketing terms a country which is powerful (Australia) then they just sit and listen to them like if it was a order. A similar situation is with our government who elects this board. So thats the thing i was talking about, most decisions taken are not actually taken by our board but the politicians. Our board is powerless in terms of desicion making, thats the only reason why Imran refused to become the chairman.

Imagine a world where they cancelled the Champions Trophy - the mind boggles trying to comprehend how we'd all get on with our lives. It would be like if the WWE did away with the Intercontinental Belt.

Well the problem is that people are propagating the belief that it would be risking your life if you play in Pakistan after bombs go off, but not in England if bombs go off, or in Jaipur if bombs go off.

Presumably that opinion arises due to Pakistan having no semblance of control.

Pakistanís hopes of hosting the Champions Trophy are probably further in doubt now after their state security was accused of having a hand in todayís embassy bombing in Afghanistan. So coupled with mass civil unrest, ungovernable tribal areas, frequent metropolitan terrorist attacks; war in Waziristan, Pakistan now stands accused of sponsoring terrorism.

Presumably that opinion arises due to Pakistan having no semblance of control.

Pakistanís hopes of hosting the Champions Trophy are probably further in doubt now after their state security was accused of having a hand in todayís embassy bombing in Afghanistan. So coupled with mass civil unrest, ungovernable tribal areas, frequent metropolitan terrorist attacks; war in Waziristan, Pakistan now stands accused of sponsoring terrorism.

The outlandish back-and-forth statements that arise after such bombings between Afghanistan and Pakistan are nothing new. The governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan do not like each other and have deep mistrust of the other. I can detail the history and cause, but this is probably not the right forum for that. I would expect that a proper security delegation would not make up their minds after reading newspaper clippings, but actually investigating any perceived threat to the visiting teams. I still maintain that such a threat does not exist, as evidenced by the successful completion of the Asia Cup (and of incident-free tours by England, South Africa, West Indies, India, and Sri Lanka in the recent past).

The outlandish back-and-forth statements that arise after such bombings between Afghanistan and Pakistan are nothing new. The governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan do not like each other and have deep mistrust of the other. I can detail the history and cause, but this is probably not the right forum for that. I would expect that a proper security delegation would not make up their minds after reading newspaper clippings, but actually investigating any perceived threat to the visiting teams. I still maintain that such a threat does not exist, as evidenced by the successful completion of the Asia Cup (and of incident-free tours by England, South Africa, West Indies, India, and Sri Lanka in the recent past).

That's a fair point but there is more than tentative suggestions for sometime now that the Pakistani military are 'assisting' the Taliban.

In regard to hosting the tournament I think what will disturb the ICC the most is when Pakistani police openly admit they can't guarantee players safety which they did only a few months ago - opting instead to outsource their security in an effort to provide more protection.

That's a fair point but there is more than tentative suggestions for sometime now that the Pakistani military are 'assisting' the Taliban.

Suggestions that are coming out of Afghanistan. Again, if you look into the history of events here, it will become clear why there is such hostility between the present Afghanistan government and Pakistan. I will point to the fact that the United States effectively runs Afghanistan. The US has often accused Pakistan of not doing enough to go after terrorists (a point that is debatable but I digress), but has never accused Pakistanís army of direct involvement. If they (the US) thought that was the case, I can guarantee you more than mere accusations would be leveled at Pakistan.

Originally Posted by TT Boy

In regard to hosting the tournament I think what will disturb the ICC the most is when Pakistani police openly admit they can't guarantee players safety which they did only a few months ago - opting instead to outsource their security in an effort to provide more protection.

Iím not sure what youíre referring to here. From what I understand, Presidential level security has been offered to visiting teams, time and time again. The PCB has always guaranteed full security. In fact, they can say theyíve been pretty successful in that regard as no player has ever been hurt by a terrorist while touring Pakistan.

Suggestions that are coming out of Afghanistan. Again, if you look into the history of events here, it will become clear why there is such hostility between the present Afghanistan government and Pakistan. I will point to the fact that the United States effectively runs Afghanistan. The US has often accused Pakistan of not doing enough to go after terrorists (a point that is debatable but I digress), but has never accused Pakistanís army of direct involvement. If they (the US) thought that was the case, I can guarantee you more than mere accusations would be leveled at Pakistan.

Its not just Afghanistan, there is jihadist sympathisers within the Pakistani military, evident in the revolt which occurred only a couple of years ago when the military protested against conflict with the Taliban in the North-West Frontier Province.

But the US are not going to openly criticise Pakistan considering President Musharraf and his military dictatorship (despite certain elements within it) is the only thing that is protecting the country from the Mullahs and a disintegrated Pakistan, which the US donít want.

Its not just Afghanistan, there is jihadist sympathisers within the Pakistani military, evident in the revolt which occurred only a couple of years ago when the military protested against conflict with the Taliban in the North-West Frontier Province.

But the US are not going to openly criticise Pakistan considering President Musharraf and his military dictatorship (despite certain elements within it) is the only thing that is protecting the country from the Mullahs and a disintegrated Pakistan, which the US donít want.

True . Actually these spoiled clowns from other rich Muslim countries when get deported from their own countries,tend to go to the remote areas like Afghanistan and that cursed and un-fortunate land has people who are already brain fed by their local mullahs and they just become fanatic recruits.
Islam has nothing to do with that and they actually use their own version of Islam to get more and and more poor recruits for their own causes . Not religious though but I gotta admit that every thing is happening as was predicted and a war will tame every one down . And that war is knocking at our doors, no matter where in the world we are at .
I don't blame any other country though and actually it's the poor planning and extra ridiculous human rights media rants which are hurdles in the way of current government who really wants to just pick all these rats and drown them some where near Antarctica.

Afghanistan is just like a dark door for Pakistan and any dark personality can enter in Pakistan . Although Pakistanis have done a lot for them and actually made a world record of holding and feeding the refugees from there but in return they are never praised by the Afghan population because they are brain fed for no apparent reason .

btw seriously why some ignorant people tend to mix up Afghanistan with Pakistan most of the times. They think all the people ride on donkeys in Karachi and Lahore for goodness sake .. I mean my ex-city's Porsche dealership set the world record of record sales in the first hour of opening .
My God man ! seriously haha I remember once a girl showed me her computer and said you know what it is .. I swear to God it happened like 7-8 years ago when I moved from Lahore to Toronto . hahahaha ....
And I replied OH MY GOD SO THIS IS COMPUTER ...... Then I sat on it and in search I typed jpg and showed her some cookies and some temporary internet jpg stored files from porno sites and she got so ****ing embarrassed.